East Timorese and West Papuan Independence. Explaining Political Climate Change

Internal, domestic, and international factors all account for the political climate surrounding these movements. For years, their rights to self-determination were in effect ignored by the United Nations and overridden by Indonesia as will be described later. Appearances aside, there do exist factors that help to explain why East Timor is now recognized by the world and its former aggressor, Indonesia, as an independent nation, while for West Papua freedom is still elusive: The human rights offenses these peoples have suffered include what appear to be acts of genocide (including hundreds of thousands of targeted deaths by the Indonesian military, and transmigration policies that have seen immigrants from other parts of Indonesia begin to outnumber the native populations). At first glance, it is difficult to comprehend why East Timor is free and West Papua continues to be held by Indonesia.

Yang Liu: East meets WestWith their clarity, insight and fundamental fondness towards both cultures, Yang Liu’s work has become not only a social media and magazine darling, but also a favorite with professional training programs around the Taschen

East, WestFantasy and realism collide as a rickshaw driver writes letters home describing his film star career in Bombay; a mispronunciation leads to romance and an unusual courtship in sixties London; two childhood friends turned diplomats live out Random House, Inc.

The Complete Middle East CookbookThe cuisine of the Middle East has always had its devotees, and eating at Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish or Greek restaurants has delighted many people in recent years. Tess M. Tuttle Publishing

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the WestHow did she become so wicked? A\ nd what is the true \ nature of evil? Gregory Maguire creates a fa\ ntasy world so rich a\ nd vivid that we will \ never look at Oz the same way agai\ n. Wicked is about a la\ nd where a\ nimals talk a\ nd strive to Gregory M. HarperCollins Publishers

Landscapes of the American West Ansel Adams:There is an exuberant photograph of an apple tree in snow taken at Yosemite, as well as the images taken for a documentary project during the war when Japanese Americans were interned at the Manzanar Relocation Lauris M. Quercus Publishing (MacLehose Press)